The FIFA dismisses cocaine consumption in Paolo Guerrero’s case

On the last Thursday, Paolo Guerrero announced that FIFA ruled out cocaine consumption after spending more than four hours presenting his defense with his lawyers before the sports organization's tribunal in Zurich, Switzerland. His lawyer, Pedro Fida, confirmed that the maximum entity dismissed the use of drugs. However, there is uncertainty about the final verdict.

To better understand the issue

José Luis Noriega, former president of the Justice Committee of the Peruvian Football Federation, pointed out that FIFA has not yet ruled out cocaine consumption. "Paolo Guerrero's lawyer has said that FIFA has cleared the consumption of cocaine, it's just his perception, it's not official," he referred.

"There is the perception that they have done well, they have felt comfortable. But for FIFA to have said yesterday that there was no cocaine consumption, is a completely different statement," he added. He also said that for the sports entity, benzoylecgonine, which is a metabolite of cocaine, will always be synonymous with the drug.

Whether it is taking coca tea or medication, the result will always be the same regardless of the amount. However, Guerrero has already proven that he has never consumed cocaine in his life, so he hopes that FIFA will reverse its position. He also spoke about the methods used by the sports organization.

"FIFA has to adapt to modern methods, with an official hair test from them, the story would be over since there are cases where it's not cocaine. All jurisprudence makes it synonymous with cocaine, but what Paolo Guerrero's lawyer wants is to break that jurisprudence, which is difficult," said Noriega.

The former president of the Justice Committee of the Peruvian Football Federation stated that if contamination occurred accidentally, it is zero. But if it occurred negligently because the player should have realized when consuming a product with the component, the sanction would be between 6 months and two years. In the case of intentional use, it would reach up to 4 years.

However, the decision can be appealed by the sports entity. "The FIFA anti-doping has approached the Disciplinary Committee and told them that they have Paolo Guerrero's samples (A and B) and that they give an adverse result, so it has to be investigated and sanctioned... "If they do not like the resolution, they can appeal, just like to WADA (World Anti-Doping Organization)," said Noriega.